Oaklands students to represent England on international basketball stage

13 October 2014

14 October 2014

Twelve students from Oaklands College’s Basketball Academy are celebrating after being selected for Basketball England’s initial National Team squads.

The students were chosen by Basketball England to join the National Teams program, which will see them develop their skills and gain experience playing at international level, whilst hoping to compete for England this summer at the annual European Championships.

Nathan, 16, said: “I’m extremely grateful to be able to play alongside some of the best players in the country and I hope to make it to the initial squad. Sixteen-year-old George said: “I am honoured to be recognised as one of the top athletes for my age, and to get the opportunity to prove myself at the high test level.”

Michael Ball, the College’s Basketball Academy Programme Manager, said: "We are really proud to see these students selected in this year’s National Teams squads. All the players know that they will need to continue to improve if they want to stay in the National Teams setup as the programs become more competitive every year. As staff we also have an even greater responsibility to ensure that we continue to give them the performance environment each player needs to help them move forward.”